Frost 18th Morning
Sitting on the barge with the girl, Myles pulled out his weathered copy of "The Lost Art of Scrivening" and flipped to the third chapter on the Mirror technique. Glancing over it Myles half smiled half sneered at the tone of the so called sage who had written the book. Still, it seemed that the knowledge it held was solid if, slightly pompous.
Ah, the Mirror. A symbol so simple in its design, yet so crucial in its function. Many aspiring scriveners overlook the importance of mastering this technique, eager to move on to the more complex forms of pictography. But I implore you, dear reader, to take heed of my words and understand the significance of the Mirror.
At its core, the Mirror is a tool for absorbing, copying, and reflecting the aether directed at it. It is a fundamental cornerstone of magical crafting practices and has seen countless uses throughout history, both to the benefit and detriment of mages worldwide. However, without proper mastery of the Mirror, one risks losing control of the aether and unleashing unintended consequences.
A mirror will immediately release any aether that comes into contact with it unless augmented with other techniques such as paths, convergences, continuum's, and vortexes. But before delving into these more complex forms of pictography, one must first master the Mirror.
The key to understanding the Mirror lies in its simplicity. By focusing solely on this technique, one can truly comprehend the nuances of aether and how it behaves when directed through the Mirror. A scrivener who rushes through this foundational technique risks missing out on the intricate details of aether manipulation that can only be learned through careful and patient study.
Do not be tempted by the allure of more complex techniques such as glyphs, vortexes, and continuum's. Yes, these are powerful tools in a scrivener's arsenal, but they are built upon the foundation of the Mirror. Without a firm understanding of the Mirror, one risks losing control of the aether and causing unintended consequences.
So, dear reader, take the time to master the Mirror. Allow yourself to be fully immersed in its simplicity, and in doing so, you will unlock the true power of Scrivening. Remember, it is better to master one technique at a time than to rush through them all and risk losing control of the very essence of magic itself.
With a thin smile, he began to read aloud: "Ah, the Mirror. Such a simple thing, yet so important in the world of Scrivening. It's like the bread of magical crafting practices - sure, you could try to make a sandwich without bread, but it's just not the same, is it?"
He paused, hoping the orphan would chuckle at his attempt at humor. When she didn't, he continued, "Okay, okay, let me break it down for you. The Mirror is like a magical sponge. It soaks up any magic directed at it and reflects it back out, kind of like how a sponge soaks up water and then wrings it out. But if you don't know how to control the sponge, you might end up making a mess, right?"
Myles glanced up at the girl, hoping she was following along. "Basically, the Mirror is a foundational technique for Scrivening. You need to master it before moving on to the more complex stuff, like glyphs and vortexes. And I have a feeling that mastering the art of soaking up magic can only be helpful for us.” He wondered what would happen if the dragonshard on the girls brow had all of it’s magic used up, would it just dissipate?
Looking up from the book with a hopeful smile. "What do you think? Ready to become a magical sponge master?"
Looking to the page Myles was greeted with even more information still focused on just the uses of the mirror glyph.
My dear reader, as we have previously discussed, the Mirror is a fundamental tool in the scrivener's arsenal for absorbing, copying, and reflecting aether. It is a crucial technique that must be mastered before moving on to more complex forms of pictography. But its significance goes beyond that, as it is the only means by which a scrivener can access the magic contained within a dragonshard.
Take, for example, the pyrolyth, also known as the Firestone, one of the most commonly found dragonshards in Ransera. This stone possesses power over fire, including the ability to control, start, and extinguish fires, as well as imbuing fire resistance and immunity on the wielder. However, accessing this power is no easy task, as the magic within the dragonshard is tightly bound and cannot be released without the proper use of scrivening.
This is where the Mirror comes into play. By utilizing the Mirror technique, a scrivener can absorb the aetheric energy emanating from the Firestone before it can be utilized in a pictograph. This allows the scrivener to control and regulate the energy, releasing it in very specific ways based on triggers woven into the pictograph. Without the Mirror, the magic contained within the Firestone would remain dormant and inaccessible, leaving a scrivener with no means of harnessing its power.
It is important to note that mastering the Mirror is not a simple task. It requires a deep understanding of aether and how it behaves when directed through the Mirror. Only with patient and diligent study can a scrivener truly comprehend the nuances of aether manipulation and avoid the unintended consequences that come with a lack of control.
But the rewards of mastering the Mirror are great. With this technique, a scrivener gains access to the power contained within dragonshards, allowing for a level of control and flexibility in the use of magic that would otherwise be impossible. So, my dear reader, take the time to master the Mirror, for without it, the true potential of scrivening will forever remain out of reach.
As he read, he continued to try and think of ways to explain the complex language to the orphan girl in a way that would make her smile. He was biggening to appreciate his masters old adage of “teaching is a way of learning”
"Okay, kiddo," he said, hoping his tone didn’t come off as disingenuous. "so the Mirror is like a giant sponge for magic. You know how when you spill juice, you use a sponge to soak it up? Well, the Mirror does the same thing with magic energy. It soaks it up before it can go all crazy and explode everywhere." His statement was followed with a dramatic onomatopoeia and wave of his fingers.
Myles looked up from the book and saw the girl smiling at his analogy. If the book didn’t help them cure her, it was at least a small blessing that it was letting them grow closer.
"And dragonshards are like little magic jugs," he continued, "and each one has a different kind of magic stored inside. Like the pyrolyth, which is a fire stone. It can control fire, make you fireproof, and all sorts of other things. But, it's not like you can just pick up a dragonshard and start using the magic. That's where the Mirror comes in. You use it to soak up the magic energy and then you can control it, like a puppet master controlling a puppet."
Myles looked down at the book again, "But mastering the Mirror isn't easy, it's like trying to teach a cat to play the piano. You have to be patient and work hard to understand how to use it properly. But, if you can do it, you'll be able to control the magic from the dragonshard and use it in all sorts of ways."
Flipping to the next page Myles couldn’t help but snort at the personal anecdote he read next.
As I sat in the scorching desert, parched and yearning for a cold drink, my thoughts turned to the lost art of Scrivening. With the techniques of this ancient magical art, I knew I could keep my mead chilled and refreshing, despite the oppressive heat.
With a dried hollow gourd in hand, I began to inscribe the necessary pictographs. First, I drew the Mirror, a simple but powerful rune that would absorb and reflect the aether directed at it. Placing it on the surface of the gourd, I knew it would be the foundation of my magical creation.
Next, I etched the Path, a simple line that would guide the aether to where I wanted it to go. I drew the path to the opening of the gourd, where I planned to insert the Ice gem.
Then, I created a Convergence, a junction where the energies flowing through the path would meet and disperse in a more controlled fashion. This convergence would allow the energy to circulate around the Ice gem and enhance its cooling power.
With these preliminary pictographs in place, I carefully inserted the Ice gem into the opening of the gourd, making sure it was secure. Then, I continued my work.
I drew a Continuum, a more advanced convergence that would capture the energy flowing through the previous pictographs and feed it back into itself. This would build up the highest momentum of focus possible for the energy flowing through it, and help to maintain the cooling effect.
Finally, I added a Vortex, a stabilizing tool that would draw in any errant energy and redistribute it back into the pictograph. This would help to mitigate the chances of anything going wrong.
With all of the necessary pictographs in place, I knew that my mead would stay chilled and refreshing, no matter how hot the desert sun became. As I took a sip, I marveled at the power of Scrivening, and vowed to continue to study this ancient art for as long as I lived.
Closing the book Myles sighed wearily, wether or not the book could help them he still wasn’t sure, but he was certain that if it could it would still be a long time off. He hoped that there travels would bless them with a quicker solution than him becoming a sage himself. As Myles knew the chances of that ever happening were beyond slim.
